Private Leonard William Carver

Regiment: 2/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire RegimentService No: 40988Date & place of birth: 20 July 1898 in Lodsworth or TillingtonDate & place of death: 30 November 1917 in Cambrai, France aged 19

The Carver family suffered losses in both world wars. George Thomas ‘Ratty’ Carver, not only lost his son Leonard William in World War 1, but also his grandson Charles John ‘Johnny’ Carver who died as a result of the Petworth School bombing in World War 2.

Family background

Leonard William Carver was born on 20 July 1898 in either Lodsworth or Tillington, the son of George Thomas ‘Ratty’ Carver, a rat and rabbit catcher, and his second wife, the widow Fanny Laverton née Sageman. They lived at Leggatt Hill in Lodsworth. Leonard was baptised on 2 October 1898 at St Laurence Church, Lurgashall.

The 1911 Census records him as a schoolboy living with parents at Leggatt Hill and from there he presumably attended Lodsworth National School.

Military career

Leonard’s attestation papers show that he enlisted in West Lavington on 22 August 1916 as Private 40988, 2/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, part of the Army’s 46th North Midland Division.

Death & commemoration

Leonard was reported missing, presumed killed in action, in the Battle of Cambrai in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France on 30 November 1917 aged 19.

The battalion’s war diary records:

28 November 1917 – The battalion takes over the front line system in Bourlon Wood relieving 1st Welsh Guards.

29 November 1917 – Our position heavily shelled by the enemy.

30 November 1917 – The battalion again heavily shelled especially D Company when casualties were very heavy. In this bombardment the enemy used shrapnel and gas shells and although heavy casualties the battalion held the line.

Leonard has no known grave but is commemorated on Panel 9 of the Cambrai Memorial and on the Lodsworth war memorial.

Subsequent family history

Leonard’s brother, George Henry, also served in World War 1 but survived.

Leonard’s mother Fanny died in 1939 aged 73 and his father George died in 1951 aged 86. George was buried in St Peter’s churchyard in Lodsworth.

George Carver not only lost his son Leonard William in World War 1, but also his grandson Charles John ‘Johnny’ Carver died as a result of his injuries in the Petworth School bombing in World War 2.

News

Click heading to see an analysis of the ages of the casualties, their family status, the forces in which they served, their ranks and the theatre of war and year in which they died.

Following consultation in Graffham and East Lavington, Penny Holland is researching the World War 1 casualties on the Graffham & East Lavington war memorial. Their stories are being added to this website as they are completed.

Iping & Chithurst and Stedham war memorials have recently been completed. Rogate should be completed shortly.

Commemorative events

Cocking

David Earley displayed the results of his extensive researches in an exhibition in Cocking Village Hall on 2/3 August. Photo by Jeffery Mableson

Lodsworth

A display in St Peter's church, Lodsworth was organised by Ian Buckingham for a commemorative event, with readings by Charles Dance, Geraldine James and Honeysuckle Weeks, and with Robert Vanryne on trumpet. The Book of Remembrance will remain permanently in the church.

Midhurst

Penny Holland, Sarah White, Pat and Roy Bryant compiled a Book of Remembrance for Midhurst Museum to include in its WW1 exhibition which was open throughout August.

Petworth

An exhibition in St Mary's Church, Petworth commemorated the casualties of World War 1. Medals, photos and other memorabilia were on display, along with stories of the 75 men of Petworth killed in the War. The research for these stories was by Kate and Nigel Flynn.

Rogate

Malcolm Hutchings has arranged for the village to commemorate those named on its war memorial by including their stories in the parish magazine on the 100th anniversary of each death.

Midhurst U3A WW1 War Memorial Project

The project

This is the website of a team from Midhurst U3A which is researching the family backgrounds, military service and deaths of the people who appear on local war memorials. We started with the parishes of Bepton, Cocking, Lodsworth, Midhurst, Petworth, Rogate and West Lavington, and have since added Elsted & Treyford, Graffham & East Lavington, Heyshott, Iping & Chithurst, Selham, Stedham and Trotton. The first phase of the project was completed in time for the centenary of the start of WW1, but our work continues!

Midhurst U3A

Midhurst U3A is one of over 900 U3As across the UK, each affiliated to the Third Age Trust. Our U3A exists for the benefit of those, no longer in full time employment, who wish to learn and keep active. Members share their knowledge and experience, and participate in a wide range of educational, creative and leisure activities.

Your historical records

Do you have historical material that might be of interest to our project? If so, please contact us so that we can discuss whether to add it to our archives and/or this website.

Copyright & Privacy

There is a possibility that some of the photographs or other material in this community website are subject to copyright or are considered private. If this is so, please let us know and we will amend or remove the material.